Manufacture of producer-gas.



J. E. BELL.

MANUFACTURE OF PRODUCER GAS. APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 17. 1915.

1,223,242. I 'Pdtented APR-17,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I I I o I l- J. E. BELL.

MANUFACTURE OF PRODUCER GAS.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 17, i915.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WQMWM WITNESSES INVENTOR n. 9mm

Qmmmh I UNITED STATES PATENT o'FFIoE.

J'OIHN E.BELL, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

' MANUFACTURE or PRODUCER-GAS.

. Specification of 'Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

Continuation of application Serial No. 681,880,"fi1ed March-6, 1912."This applicationfiled July" 17, 1915.

Serial No. {$0,461.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. BELL, a resident of New York city, in thecounty and ,State of New "York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in the Manufacture of Producer-Gas, of which the fol: lowingis. a full, clear, and exact description, reference being -had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which NFigure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section showing one form ofapparatus for carrying out my invention; where the combustion chamber isdivided into two parts and the fuel drops by gravity through theproducer. Fig. 2 is a partial vertical cross-section o p the line II-IIof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section on the line IIIIII ofFig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View showing another form of feedermechanism.

My invention relates to the making of I producer gas and'is designed toprovide an entirely new system therefor.

. Among the objects of the invention are, to enable large units to bemade and operated, to'reduce the cost of installation, space occupied,and the cost of operation, ,and standby losses, to eliminate thedifficulties arising from the formation and disposal of clinker andash;"-t0 fix the hydrocarbon gases and make gas free from tar and smoke;to increase the amount of steam which may be decomposed, and" thus theamount of water gas formed; to give better control of the operation andto increase the general efiiciency of the system.

In" carrying out my invention, I burn granulated or pulverized fuel insuspension in an atmosphere of preheated air, or preheated air andsteam,furnished by a regenerator or recuperator, which is heated by theoutgoing gas. I preferably burn the fuel in suspension in a combustionchamber having two or more compartments, the ash v being dropped duringthepassage from one compartment to the next. I also preferably incloseat least a part ofthe producer by the regenerator or regenerators. I mayalso divide'the steam supplied to'the producer in two parts, mixing onepart with the air necessary for gasifying the fuel (directing the jetsso as to assist the draft) or use it to project the fuel into theproducer, and add the remaining steam to the gas after combustion toreduce any carbon dioxid formed to carbon monoxid and at the same timelower the temperature of the gas entering the regenerator.

The burning of the fuel while-in suspension isa'n important feature asit overcomes the difliculties incident to the formation of clinkers andash. l/Vith a producer in which ash and clinker in the form of dust andpellets which can be removed by centrifugal action when the resultinggas is forced to make a sharp or abrupt turn. The ash and clinkerdisposed of in this way will not in any manner afiect the action of theproducer, so that the-temperature in the combustion chamber is onlylimited by the' ability of the material forming the walls and partitionsto withstand heat.

The high temperature at which the reac .tions can take place is ofadvantage as it favors the formation of carbon'monoxid in thecombination occurring between the carbon and the oxygen furnished by theair or steam, and-also insures a rapid and perfect combustion of thefuel.- l Other advantages of my invention will be presented in a laterpartof the specification. In the drawings, referring to the form ofFigs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the combustion chamher is divided-into twocompartments 2, 2, separated by a partition 3, shownas raised midwaybetween the side walls 4, this partition terminating above the bottom 5of the producer and being shown as supported at its lower end on atransverse box ,6, through which water may be circulated The granulatedor pulverized fuel may be" fed to either one of these chambers 2 by anydesirable form of feeders which will drop the fuel in the form of acloud, curtain or sheet. For this purpose, I have shown a hopper'7,having a series of feed channels 8,v

The ash shown each regenerator as having a chamber,

cated on each side of the chamber and connecting therewith "through aseries of ports 11 near the upper end of each wall 4:. I have 12,through which the entering air passes downwardly and a divided chamber13 through which the air passes upwardly during its flow through theregenerator to the combustion chamber. These regenerator chambers may befilled with any suitable checker work material to absorb .and give outheat, and may be provided with any suitable reversing valves. 4 n

In the present case, I have shown two valves let and 15, mounted on thesame vertical stem 16, these valves being mounted in chamber 17interposed in the outlet from the regenerator to the gas fine 18. Theupper valve 14; controls the air inlet through the pipe or flue 19, andI have shown the valve rod as provided with a link and lever systemoperated by an eccentric 20 mounted on a suitably driven shaft. Thevalve, however, 'can be operated by steam or hydraulic cylinders orother means. I have shown the chambers 12 of the regenerators asprovided with headers or steam supply chambers 21, having branch supplypipes or blowers 22, one to each opening in the regenerator.

' Through these the main steam supply passes and mixes with the enteringair. I have also shown in the wall 3 and in line with the ports 11 anauxiliary steam supply header 33 divided longitudinally by a centraldiaphragm and provided with a series of nozzles from each compartmentdirected into the adjacent ports 11.

In Fig. 4 I have shown another form of fuel feeding device which is insome respects preferable, as by the use thereof the fuel can bedischarged into the chambers 2 in the form of a cloud, the individualparticles of the fuel being in this manner distributed in'and surroundedby the heated air and steam in a manner to secure the most eflicientresults.

The device shown in this figure comprises one or more oscillating feederspouts 34 which are preferably operated at a relatively high speed ofmovement by any suitable means, such as the eccentric rod 35 surroundingthe eccentric 36 on a driven tors. gases generated will be low in heatfuel and shaft 37. The eccentric rod is connected in any suitable mannerwith one of the trunnions of the feed spout, so that the feed spout isactuated thereby. These oscillating feeder spouts may be supplied withfuel by any suitable supply system. The top walls of the chamber 2" maybe water cooled, as indicated at 38, the water cooling members beingshaped as indicated so as to permit of the oscillation of the 'feederspouts therein.

In the operation of the apparatus during the period shown in Fig. 1, theair is entering at the left hand 'side' passing downwardly through thechamber 12 where it is mixed with steam, the steam and air. mixturepassing upwardly through the two portions of the chamber 13 and enteringthe left hand compartment of chamber2 through the ports 11. In thischamberthe mixture of heated air and superheated steam mingles with thesheet or curtain of dropping fuel which, on account of the hightemperature, is ignited at once and burns during the passage downwardly.The ash and clinker drop out of the current during this downward passand also during the turn into the upward pass through the othercompartment, dropping to the bottom of the combustion chamber, fromwhich they may be removed in any suitable way, through openings 23provided with suitable closures. The auxiliary steam is injected intothe gas just before it enters the right hand ports 11. of the operation,the fuel may be ignited in any desirable manner and a sufficientquantity burned to thoroughly heat the walls of the combustion chamberand the regenera- During this period, of course, the

will be wasted.

During the passage of the mixture through the two chambers, the usualreaction takes place, the steam being decomposed and the oxygen of theairandin the steam combining with the carbon to form a combust'ible gas.Owing to the high temperature developed, the hydrocarbons will berapidly driven off and changed to fixed gases. The gas, after havingbeen somewhat cooled by the reaction between the steam from the header.38 and any carbon dioxid formed in chamber2, passes through the upperright hand ports 11 and enters the right hand regenerator to which itwill give up a large amount of its remaining heat before leaving theproducer and passing to the point of use. Gradually cooling the gas Atthe beginning loo in this way prevents a reversal of any of thereactions which otherwise might occur with the formation of soot andtar.

At suitable intervals the flow through the producer will be reversed andthe coal will be fed into the other compartment of cham ber 2,thecurrent of fuel being dropped into .carbon monoxid and the only one ofthese compartments at a time; that is the compartment receiving the hotair from the regenerators. The main steam supply Will then be changed tothe right .hand. regenerator'and the auxiliary steam the steamimmediately begins'j iupon contact I between the powdered fuel tthdtheair and-1 steam. The time requiredto gasify a-given temperature beyond,the point at which the- I reaction stops in the ordinary producer.

Heretofore, wherever it has been'attempt the result that the quantity offuel is thus greatly reduced over that of the ordinaryproducer,'-further,

more steam 'mayibe used than ordinarily, a1s

on account of the high superheat less additional heat is required in thereaction between steam and carbon, and on account of the initial hightemperature also the reactions continue during the lowering of the ed touse powdered coal in a gas producer, it has beencarried in by a blast ofairtand great 'difliculty has been experienced in obtaining a constantand-fixed proportion between the weight of the air and the fuel with gasis not of uniform quality. In this form, the feeder, operatedmechanically and independent of the air supply insures a regular andcontinuous feed of a predetermined amount of fuel. The amount of airpassing through the producer can be exactly regulated by the draft pressure or suction, and the amount of steam admitted can be varied eitheras a whole or as between the main and auxiliary supply. The

main supply controls the rise of temperature in the combustion chamber,and the amount of the auxiliary supply the 'final temperature of the gasbefore entering the regenerator, and subsequently the temperature of thegas leaving the producer. Each I of the materials entering into thecomposition of the gas can thus be varied or regulated independently andatwill.

An additional advantage lies in the fact that the rate of formation ofgascan be varied or the actual productionstopped almost immediately,this being a great advantage over -the old form of producer, and makingit possible, dispense with gasholders or accumulators. The stand-bylosses are also greatly reduced, as there is no fuelbed to becomechilled or clinkers to freeze.

The reversals in the direction of flow of the gas through the com ustionchambers and regenerators will, to a great extent, separate the dust andash from the gas and consequently a much cleaner gas can be producedthan from the ordinary form of progasification,

'the 'use of water heating service.

blower in the gas mam, of these methods.

even in large plants, to Many other changes and additions may I obviousto those skilled in the art, and have mainly been set forth in theforegoing specifications. Theapparatus may be built in large sizedunits, reducing the first cost, the cos'tof installation, and the costof operation, higher temperatures of combustion may be maintained,increasingthe rate of fixing the hydrocarbon gases, eliminating tarandlsmoke, and increasing the amountof steam that may be usedor theamount of heat that can be abstracted by The temperature of the gasleaving theproducer can to near that of the be reduced to'within a fewdegrees of the temperature of the atmosphere, thus increas ing theefficiency. I The ash and clinkers are automatically deposited by thegas and a cleaner gas is obtained. Full control of the process isprovided as the steam, air and fuel may be separately and independentlyregulated. V

The fuel has been mentioned in some instances as coal. It may be,nevertheless, lignite, peat, oil, ground Wood or any other substancecontaining carbon and capable of gasification. I

The producer shown can be divided into two or more separate parts bypartition walls in the combustion chambers, passageways andregenerators, and the different parts operated so that the air and gasflow are reversed at different times. I I

N on-return or check valves can be placed in the gasoutlet, as can alsoatmospheric valves arranged to open momentarily .to the atmosphere at areversal, allowing the air contained by the volume of the 'regenerator,passages and connections to escape before starting the gas to flow.

The air may be supplied under pressure from a fan, or may be inducedinto the producer by the action of the'steam jets furnishing the steamrequired; or it may be drawn in by suction produced by a fan or or by acombination exception that in this case Fig. 3 discloses both ends ofthe apparatus. Fig. 4, which illustrates another form of coal feedingheat stored in said device to preheat air for use in said combustionchamber, substantially as described. A

2. The herein described method of manufacturing producer gas, whichconsists in causing powdered coal to fall through a combustion chamber,supplying preheated air to said chamber to support the combustiontherein, and periodically interchanging the paths of the incoming airand outgoing gases, substantially as described.

3. The herein described method of manufacturing producer gas, whichconsists in causing powdered coal to fall through a combustion chamber,passing the outgoing gases from said chamber through a heat storagedevice, and subsequently utilizing the heat stored in said device topreheat air for the support of combustion in said chamber, substantiallyasdescribed. 4. The herein described method of operating a gas producer,which has acombustion chamber and a regenerator connected to 'OPPOSIlX-Bends of said chamber, said method consisting in burning powdered fuel.1n suspension 1n said chamber, passing air into said chamber throughone of the regen- "erators and simultaneously passing the gases fromsaid chamber out through the other regenerator, and periodicallychanging the gas and air flow to cause each regenerator to bealternately used for cooling the outgoing gases and for heating theincoming air, substantially as described.-

5. The herein described method of operating a gas producer having avertically 'divided "combustion chamber whose divisions are connected attheir lower portions, and also having a regenerator connected to eachdivision thereof, said method consisting in supplying powdered fuelalternately to the twodivisione passing air into the division beingsupplied with fuel through one of the regenerators and passing the gasesfrom said division out through the other regenerator, and reversing theair and gas flow in the two regenerators with each change in the supplyof fuel from one division to the other, substantially as described.

6. The herein described method of operating a gas producer whichconsists in introvice, and utilizing the heatabsorbed in the.

cooling operation to preheat air for the combustion in said chamber,substantially as described.

7 The herein described method of operating a gas producer which consistsin introducing powdered coal into the upper portion of a combustion.chamber in a cloud-like condition and independently ofair or steam,supplying preheated air to said chamber independently of the fuelsupply, and causing the fuel to burn while in suspension in saidchamber, introducing steam into said chamber near the point wherecombustion initiates, and introducing further steam into the gases aftersuch combustion to further reduce the carbon dioxid to carbon monoXidand also to lower the temperature of said gases, substantially asdescribed.

8. The herein described method of operating a gas producer whichconsists in intro ducingpowdered coal into the upper portion of acombustion chamber in a cloud-like condition andindependently of air orsteam, supplying preheated air to said chamber independently of the fuelsupply, causing the fuel to burn while in suspension in said chamber,introducing steam into said chainber near the point where combustioninitiates, introducing further steam into the gases after suchcombustion to further reduce the carbon dioxid to carbon monoxid andalso to lower the temperature of said gases, and then passing the gasesthrough a heat storage device to. further cool them, substantially asdescribed.

9. The herein described method of opcrating a gas producer, whichconsists in burning powdered or granulated solid fuel in the combustion.chamber of the furnace in the form of a dropping cloud or shower,

abruptly changing the direction of flow of 1 abruptly changing thedirection of flow of the gases passing from the bottom of said chamberand passing them upwardly through another passage in the producer,substantially as described. v

11. The herein described method of operating grateless gas producers,which consists in causing powdered or granulated solid fuel to fallvertically in cloud-like form through a relatively long combustionchamber and burning thefuel While so falling, abruptly changing thedirection of flow of the gases passing from the bottom of said chamberand passing them upwardly through another passage in the producer, andthen passing 15 JOHN. E. BELL.

Witnesses ELIZABETH ARMSTRONG, F. FALLA.

